William Hayman Cummings
Dr. Arne and Rule, Britannia
language
( July 15, 2013)
Dr. Arne and Rule Britannia,Thomas arne, composers, composers biographies, composers on music, composer biography,england,England history
The glorious National Song, “Rule, Britannia,” is familiar to the whole British race; nevertheless very few men and women are acquainted with the history of its birth and parentage.
In the following pages I have endeavoured to chronicle all the facts which are discoverable by diligent research, and to present them in an attractive and entertaining manner.
The life of Dr. Arne, the composer of “Rule, Britannia,” offers to the reader and to the music student an interesting and instructive story, showing that natural ability, even when combined with genius, is not sufficient to ensure a triumphant and successful career. Morality and conscientious rectitude in the affairs of life are essential, and had Arne exercised these, his exceptional gifts might have enabled him to surpass his great contemporary, Handel.
It only remains to be noted that many letters and documents are here printed for the first time, some of them copied from the original autographs in my possession. They illuminate much which has hitherto been obscure and uncertain in the career of a famous composer.
The glorious National Song, “Rule, Britannia,” is familiar to the whole British race; nevertheless very few men and women are acquainted with the history of its birth and parentage.
In the following pages I have endeavoured to chronicle all the facts which are discoverable by diligent research, and to present them in an attractive and entertaining manner.
The life of Dr. Arne, the composer of “Rule, Britannia,” offers to the reader and to the music student an interesting and instructive story, showing that natural ability, even when combined with genius, is not sufficient to ensure a triumphant and successful career. Morality and conscientious rectitude in the affairs of life are essential, and had Arne exercised these, his exceptional gifts might have enabled him to surpass his great contemporary, Handel.
It only remains to be noted that many letters and documents are here printed for the first time, some of them copied from the original autographs in my possession. They illuminate much which has hitherto been obscure and uncertain in the career of a famous composer.
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- 186